Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

WSET Diploma, Module 1 > Mastering Canopy Management Techniques > Flashcards

Mastering Canopy Management Techniques Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
WSET ® Level 1 Wine flashcards WSET ® Level 2 Wine flashcards WSET ® Level 3 Wine flashcards WSET ® Level 2 Spirits flashcards WSET ® Level 1 Spirits flashcards WSET ® Level 3 Spirits flashcards WSET® Level 4 Wine flashcards
1
Q

The six main canopy management techniques:

A
  1. site assessment to determine the ideal grape variety, rootstock vigor, planting density and row orientation
  2. vine training
  3. winter pruning
  4. vine trellising
  5. overall plant vigor management (nitrogen fertilization, irrigation, cover dropping, etc.)
  6. summer pruning
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What operations are performed during summer pruning?

A
  • shoot removal
  • shoot positioning
  • pinching
  • shoot trimming
  • leaf removal
  • crop thinning/green harvesting
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Why is canopy management important when establishing a vineyard?

A
  • choices regarding vine density will affect the vine training and trellising
  • must be decided before planting anything
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is vine density?

A
  • the number of vines that are planted per hectare of vineyard
  • range from a few hundred vines per hectare to over 10K
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How is the optimum vine density determined?

A
  • the vigor of the vine (which is in turn influenced by natural resources and planting materials)
  • the type of trellising system used
  • what access requirements between the vines
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How would one plant vines that are high in vigor?

A
  • will need greater within-row spacing to grow and be in balance
  • planting these vines too close together could lead to overlapping canopies and increased shading, reducing ripeness and quality
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How would one plant vines that are low in vigor and VSP trained?

A

Can be planted very closely together within the row as the individual vines are relatively small

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How would one plant vines in dry regions without irrigation?

A

Low density so that the roots can spread out, without competition, in search for as much water as possible.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the general rule of between-row spacing?

A

Vine rows should be planted far enough apart so one row does not shade the next.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What also needs to be considered when planning between-row spacing?

A

The width of any machinery that might be used.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What orientation generally provides the most even sunlight exposure through the canopy?

A

north-south orientation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Conditions in the afternoon are usually warmer than those in the morning, so what might a grape grower do with north-south orientation rows?

A

Grape bunches on the west side of the canopy (exposed to afternoon sun) may require more shading from leaves to protect them from sunburn.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What effect do prevailing winds have on row orientation?

A

Grape growers may choose to orient the rows at a 90 degree angle to the direction of the wine to provide the most protection from it.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

From an efficiency point of view, what row orientation is often the optimal option?

A

Orienting rows to the longest side of the vineyard

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What row orientation option is needed for vineyards on slopes at an angle of greater than 10%?

A

Need to be planted up and down the slope rather than across, or machinery may slip.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is vine training?

A

Typically refers to the shape of the permanent wood of the vine.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Two main categories of vine training?

A
  1. head training
  2. cordon training
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Describe low-training of a vine.

A
  • the vine trunk is short
  • benefit from heat retained by the soil
  • provide greater protection from wind
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Describe high training of a vine.

A
  • vine trunk is long
  • better to avoid frosts
  • make manual interventions (e.g. harvesting) easier
18
Q

Describe head training.

A
  • these vines have relatively little permanent wood
  • permanent wood usually consists of the trunk and head of the trunk
  • they can either be spur-pruned or replacement can-pruned
19
Q

Describe cordon training.

A

These vines typically have a trunk and one or more permanent horizontal arms of permanent wood, called “cordons”.

  • usually spur-pruned
  • cordon training takes longer to establish than head training due to the amount of permanent wood.
20
Q

Define winter pruning.

A

The removal of unwanted parts of the vine in winter to determine the number and location of buds that will form.

21
Q

What are the two main types of winter pruning?

A
  1. spur pruning
  2. replacement cane pruning
22
Q

Describe spur pruning.

A
  • spurs are short sections of one year-old wood that have been cut back to only two or three buds
  • spurs can either be distributed along a cordon (cordon training) or around the top of the trunk (head training)
23
Q

Difference in ease of spur or replacement cane pruning?

A
  • spur pruning is easier to carry out and can often be mechanized
  • replacement cane pruning is more complex and requires skill to pick suitable canes and train them
24
Q

Define and describe canes.

A
  • canes are longer sections of one year-old wood, and can have anywhere between 8 and 20 buds
  • they are typically laid down horizontally and need tying to a trellis for support and positioning
25
Q

Define and describe trellising.

A
  • permanent structures of posts and wires that help to support and position the vine’s shoots
  • vine’s tendrils will naturally curl around the trellis wires and help keep the canopy in place
  • the grower will also tie in branches and shoots to the trellis as necessary
26
Q

Define bush vines.

A
  • no trellising
  • head-trained
  • spur-pruned
27
Q

What are the benefits of bush vines?

A
  • simple
  • inexpensive
28
Q

What is the climate where bush vines are popular, and why?

A
  • hot and sunny regions
  • dry conditions
  • the shade created is beneficial to avoid sunburn
  • dry conditions inhibit disease in a potentially humid fruiting zone
29
Q

Three advantages of trellised training systems?

A
  1. maximize light interception
  2. increase air flow through the canopy, to reduce fungal disease
  3. aids mechanization, by positioning the fruit in one area
30
Q

What is the disadvantage of trellising?

A
  • expensive to establish, and requires maintenance
31
Q

Describe vertical shoot positioning (VSP).

A
  • the vine’s shoots are trained vertically and are held in place onto the trellis, forming a single narrow canopy
  • best suited to vines with low or moderate vigor
32
Q

Describe Guyot training.

A
  • when VSP is used on replacement cane pruned vines
  • single: one cane retained
  • double: two canes retained
33
Q

What are four split canopy systems?

A
  • Geneva Double Curtain
  • Lyre
  • Scott-Henry
  • Smart-Dyson
34
Q

What are the three aims of summer pruning?

A
  • enhancing grape ripening
  • reducing chances of fungal disease
  • making the vineyard easier to manage
35
Q

Describe debudding

A

Removal of excess buds.

Goals:

  1. manage vine yields and balance (quality, law)
  2. to remove buds that are poorly positioned (downward facing, close together)
  3. remove buds of non-fruit bearing shoots (competition)
36
Q

Why might growers often leave a high number of buds on the vine at winter pruning?

A

In case buds are damaged early in the growing season, e.g. by spring frost

37
Q

Describe shoot removal.

A
  • removal of shoots, often laterals, that are infertile or poorly positioned (e.g. too close together, or low down on the trunk
  • help to maintain a well-organized, open canopy
38
Q

Describe shoot positioning.

A

The shoots are tucked into the trellis wires in an organized manner to better organize the canopy and facilitate mechanization.

39
Q

Describe pinching.

A
  • removes the tips at flowering
  • improve fruit set
40
Q

Describe shoot trimming.

A
  • cutting shoots to limit growth and reduce canopy thickness
  • enhances fruit ripening by reducing competition for carbohydrates between the shoot tips and fruit
  • lowers disease pressure through better air circulation and improved spray penetration
41
Q

Describe leaf stripping.

A
  • removing leaves
  • reduce shading of fruit and hence enhance ripening
  • lower disease pressure through better air circulation and improved spray penetration
42
Q

Where might leaf stripping be avoided?

A

In warm and hot climates, excessive removal of leaves can expose the grapes to too much sunshine and heat and lead to sunburn.

43
Q

Describe crop thinning or green harvesting.

A
  • removal of bunches of grapes
  • increase ripeness of those grapes left on the vine
44
Q

What is the timing of green harvesting?

A
  • near veraison to enhance ripening
  • in cases where fruit ripening is uneven (e.g. because of uneven budburst, frost, or the presence of bunches on lateral shoots), the least ripe bunches of grapes may be removed to improve the uniformity of ripening

WSET Diploma, Module 1 (70 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions